Health Stand Nutrition Consulting Inc.

It's your health. Take a Stand.

Follow us on Facebook Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn Follow Andrea on Twitter Watch our YouTube Channel Follow Andrea on Pinterest Follow Health Stand on Instagram Follow us on Google+ RSS Feed

Call: 403 301 4106

Or: 1 800 268 9487

  • Home
  • Our Story
    • About
    • Meet the Team!
      • Andrea Holwegner
      • Richelle Tabelon
      • Jana Spindler
      • Kate Chury
      • Lindsay Rieger
    • Media Appearances
    • Media Kit
    • Awards & Acknowledgments
    • Career Opportunities
    • Request More Information
  • Nutrition Counseling
    • Nutrition Counselling Overview
    • Programs
      • Program 1: Learning
      • Program 2: Guided Change Program
      • Program 3: Comprehensive Support Program
    • Personal Nutrition Scorecard
    • Meet Your Nutritionists
      • Andrea Holwegner
      • Richelle Tabelon
      • Jana Spindler
      • Kate Chury
      • Lindsay Rieger
    • Book an appointment
    • Pursuit of Healthiness Online Distance Education Nutrition Course
    • Success Stories
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Company Policies
    • Request More Information
  • Corporate Wellness & Speaking
    • Workplace Wellness
    • Workplace Wellness Scorecard
    • Professional Speaking
      • Speaking Overview
      • Thinking of hiring Andrea for your event?
      • Meeting Planner Resources
      • Keynote, Workshop & Retreat Topics
      • Rave Reviews
    • Pursuit of Healthiness Online Distance Education Nutrition Course
    • Monthly Nutrition Club
    • Onsite or Virtual Nutrition Counselling
    • Nutrition & Wellness Video License
    • Customized Help
    • EnerTHRIVE! Corporate Wellness Newsletter
    • Rave Reviews
    • Client List
    • Request More Information
  • Food & Grocery Industry
    • Food, Grocery and Restaurant Industry Expert
    • Meet the Team!
      • Andrea Holwegner
      • Richelle Tabelon
      • Jana Spindler
      • Kate Chury
      • Lindsay Rieger
    • Food Industry References
    • Request More Information
  • Free Resources
    • Free Resources
    • Our Blog
    • Healthy Recipes & Menus
    • Health & Wellness Topics
    • Health Stand Nutrition TV / Radio / Print
    • Sound Bites Newsletter
    • EnerTHRIVE! Corporate Wellness Newsletter
    • Request More Information
  • Store
    • Store
    • Pursuit of Healthiness Online Distance Education Nutrition Course
    • Meal Planning Power Package
    • Juiced Up Journal
    • Request More Information
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

February 26, 2013

How Restaurants Can Market to Health Conscious Consumers

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
As seen in

Understanding the needs and wishes of healthy eaters and those with specific health challenges is becoming more important for restaurants and the foodservice industry as a whole. Consumers are becoming more aware and will continue to demand choice and ask questions about your offerings. With an increasing number of people either struggling with their weight or dealing with serious health issues such as with high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes, they will expect restaurants to offer solutions.

Revisit your offerings and consider product innovation that of course tastes good, but also has an appeal to a growing number of your customers in the following health conscious consumer groups:

General health advocates

This consumer group wants to see balanced meals, whole foods rather than processed foods and will value a “cook-from-scratch” approach. They may appreciate locally grown foods, organic choices or eco-friendly options. If you are targeting this large, diverse market, focus on a farm-to-table approach, natural, pure and simple ingredients. Emphasize nutrient-dense foods such as whole grains, fresh fruits, colourful vegetables, lean meats, fish, seafood, and calcium-rich foods. Incorporate healthy fats from olive oil, nuts, seeds and avocados.

This consumer group may also value premium ingredients and be interested in trying new trendy offerings such as super-fruits (acai, goji berry, mangosteen), heirloom produce (potatoes, apples, tomatoes), exotic choices (fruit, mushrooms, ancient grains, hemp seeds, chia seeds) and interesting beverages (custom made smoothies, probiotic beverages, coconut water, rooibos lattes, chilled custom brewed tea and fresh pressed vegetable juice using carrot and beets). They may also try vegetarian options or dairy-free or gluten-free products regardless of whether or not they need to avoid these for medical or personal reasons.

Weight-loss focused consumers

A significant number of your customers are trying to lose weight and one important factor to consider in this area is reducing calorie consumption. There are two ways you can look at managing lower calorie items for this subgroup that focuses on volume or value.

A focus on volume means offering customers a good-sized portion that doesn’t make them feel deprived. Many consumers eat with their eyes not their stomachs and need to have a full plate to feel satisfied. Vegetables and fruits are particularly important to include since you can deliver plenty of volume without many calories. Fats, starches and protein-rich choices are important parts of a balanced meal but be cognizant about portion sizes since they may provide more calories without the same volume. Offer small whole-grain pancakes with berry compote, a dollop of Greek yogurt and a large serving of fruit. Try a half-size order of pasta served with a large salad. Consider a mini quesadilla with plenty of raw veggies and dip.

The second way to market to customers trying to lose weight is by value, or what could be called the indulgence factor. Give them down-sized indulgent choices so they can treat themselves with what they want while keeping their calories in check. Small-bites and share plates that help weight-conscious customers manage portion control is a welcome change and allows people to live in the middle between all or none. It is a lot more fun for your customer to order a mini-dessert than leave feeling deprived or, alternatively, stuffed and defeated after a large treat.

Customers with health issues

Many people have health concerns such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, celiac disease and others. More restaurant and foodservice establishments could be helping this customer know what to choose. If you have items that are reduced sodium, lower fat, trans-fat-free, lower sugar or gluten-free, be sure to flag these for consumers that have medical issues.

Food industry suppliers are increasingly making lower-sodium choices available and it would be best to source these whenever possible. Everyone wins when you market “choice” so customers can choose to keep their foods less salty or add more salt to please their own palate.

To reduce blood cholesterol levels your customers don’t need to eliminate fat, they need help choosing the right type of fat. Offer expanded side dishes such as oven-baked sweet potato fries roasted in olive oil and salads with seeds or nuts and vinaigrettes and stamp them on the menu with a heart-healthy label. Give them a choice of a heart-healthy pizza with a whole-grain thin crust, loads of vegetables and a small amount of strong cheese.

Include at least one diabetes-friendly dessert on your menu such as a small fruit crumble or low-sugar frozen yogurt with fruit. Consider sourcing only gluten-free thickeners and sauces used onsite to make your menu easily adaptable to someone with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

After taking all of the above into consideration, be sure to consult with a registered dietitian who can offer you tasty new ideas that can increase the appeal of your products and menu to health-conscious consumers starving for more choice.

Click below for a print friendly PDFs of this article.
PDF #1  |  PDF #2  |  PDF #3

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Email to someone
email

Filed Under: Nutrition, Health & Wellness Topics Tagged With: andrea holgwegner, balanced meals, Diabetes, foodservice industry, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, probiotic beverages, restaurant industry, restaurant patrons, restaurants, super-fruits, Weight loss

About Andrea Holwegner

President, Registered Dietitian, Counselling Practice Director & Professional Speaker

Andrea the "Chocoholic Nutritionist" is founder and president of Health Stand Nutrition Consulting Inc. since 2000. She is a professional speaker, media expert for the Dietitians of Canada and consultant to the food and restaurant industry for companies...Read more

Follow us on Facebook Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn Follow Andrea on Twitter Watch our YouTube Channel Follow Andrea on Pinterest Follow Health Stand on Instagram Listen to our Podcasts on iTunes

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

  • what to eat for a healthy heart by a heart health dietitianNutrition for a Healthy Heart
  • assorted bagels, diabetes food mythsDispelling 3 Top Diabetes Diet Myths
  • sugar nutrition factsIs Sugar Really That Bad For You?
  • keto diet review by registered dietitian andrea holwegnerTo keto or not to keto, that is the question: A dietitians thoughts about the keto diet
  • weight loss plateauThe reasons why you’ve hit a weight loss plateau
newseltter signup

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

Success Stories

Deb taught me how to eat intuitively. She promised that if I was open to this approach I could be free of my obsession with food and that one day I would eat when I am hungry and stop when I am full. She created a world where no food was off limits. She provided me with resources, assistance and support to help to learn to listen to my body. Thanks to Deb and her work, I have increased energy, less mood swings, my clothes still fit and are even getting looser (but this isn’t even important anymore) and in fact my overall stress level has been reduced.

~ Jennifer Desilets

+ read more success stories

 

Meal Planning
Power Package

By Andrea Holwegner, BSc, RD

Don’t miss out on getting copies of our most popular nutrition resources!

Plan ahead and make nutritious choices that will help you manage a healthy weight, keep energetic and improve your health.

» Learn more

Article Categories

Dietitians of Canada member blog Member of the Nutrition Blog Network

Top 100 Nutrition Blogs

About

  • Company Overview
  • Our Team
  • Media Appearances
  • Media Kit
  • Awards & Acknowledgments
  • Careers
  • Contact

Services

  • Personal Nutrition Counselling
  •   Personal Success Stories
  • Workplace Wellness & Speaking
  •   Rave Speaking Reviews
  • Food & Grocery Industry Consulting
  •   Food Industry References
  • Client List

Resources

  • Blog
  • Sound Bites Newsletter
  • Health & Wellness Topics
  • Healthy Recipes & Menus
  • TV / Radio / Print Appearances
  • Podcast: Pursuit of Healthiness
  • Store

Connect With Us

  • Health Stand Nutrition Consulting Inc.
    1325b – 9th Avenue SE, Calgary, AB
    Canada T2G 0T2
  • PHONE: 403 301 4106   OR:   1 800 268 9487
    FAX: 403 398 1561
  • EMAIL: info@healthstandnutrition.com
  • Follow us on Facebook Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn Follow Andrea on Twitter Watch our YouTube Channel Follow Andrea on Pinterest Follow Health Stand on Instagram Follow us on Google+ RSS Feed

© 2019 Health Stand Nutrition Consulting Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Web Design